trailer materials

[cjmitchell5]

I've been brainstorming ideas for building my trailer. I've decided I want to build a custom box that would sit on a trailer frame. What I'm thinking is using channel steel to form the frame of the box. No problem. It's the wall material where I'm stalled.

I've come up w/ the idea of HDPE in perhaps .25" thickness. My reasons:
1. relatively inexpensive
2. structurally sound (I think) I can cut holes in it and install pre-fab boat hatches for doors.
3. Readily available in 4 x 8 sheets and easy to cut as needed.

I think I had some other reasons but I forget at the moment. I'm looking forward to others' input.

 

[Hilldweller]

I've been brainstorming ideas for building my trailer. I've decided I want to build a custom box that would sit on a trailer frame. What I'm thinking is using channel steel to form the frame of the box. No problem. It's the wall material where I'm stalled.

I've come up w/ the idea of HDPE in perhaps .25" thickness. My reasons:
1. relatively inexpensive
2. structurally sound (I think) I can cut holes in it and install pre-fab boat hatches for doors.
3. Readily available in 4 x 8 sheets and easy to cut as needed.

I think I had some other reasons but I forget at the moment. I'm looking forward to others' input.

I must've drawn up about 50 sketches of ideas before I caved-in and bought the Conqueror.
If you have the time, resources, and skill-sets, I salute you. Some of these guys have built amazing trailers.
My dream trailer would have aluminum skin though for strength as well as weight savings.

Here are my early sketches; it's halfway between an AT and Sherpa...

 

[TheGillz]

I've been brainstorming ideas for building my trailer. I've decided I want to build a custom box that would sit on a trailer frame. What I'm thinking is using channel steel to form the frame of the box. No problem. It's the wall material where I'm stalled.

I've come up w/ the idea of HDPE in perhaps .25" thickness. My reasons:
1. relatively inexpensive
2. structurally sound (I think) I can cut holes in it and install pre-fab boat hatches for doors.
3. Readily available in 4 x 8 sheets and easy to cut as needed.

I think I had some other reasons but I forget at the moment. I'm looking forward to others' input.

Pardon my ignorance. What is HDPE?

 

[Hilldweller]

Really really really strong plastic.

I've seen a few trailers made from it. If it gets scratched, you can buff the area with steel wool and it looks good again.
They make alot of water tanks from it; I think the tanks on my Compact are made from HDPE anyhow...

 

[rusty_tlc]

Pardon my ignorance. What is HDPE?

Wiki is your friend.

 

[Hilldweller]

Wiki is your friend.

I'm a little ashamed that I didn't wik it...

 

[ntsqd]

High Density PolyEthylene

HDPE is commonly used for making plastic cutting boards. It doesn't stain very easily and it doesn't paint very easily. So if you do use it, buy it in the color that you want it to be. Without a UV stabilizer in the polymer it may not like being in the sun very much. Recall how fast milk plastic bottles degrade in sunlight. Same polymer, just thinner.

Along with the staining and painting, it doesn't bond easily either. Sealing it may take some research. Can possibly plastic weld your assembly together, but at the thickness' desired that may take a plastic welder with a lot of power. Only a little experience there, so I know some of the potential pitfalls without knowing the scale of them.

As a construction material it wouldn't be my first choice. For a high scuffing wear area it would be considered along with Acetal.

BTW, rectangular or square steel tube is a better bet for a frame. Juggle the wall thickness' and sizes to get the strength required in the space allowed.

 

[Markgyver]

Something to check out is tubing is cheaper than chanel in my area. Plus you dont have to miter/cope your intersections. Im building my trailer with 2"X3"X11 ga.